SIC spotlights technical programs

The Career and Technical Education Department at Southeastern Illinois College hosted high school students Friday for its annual Applied Technology Spotlight Day event.

Area high schools brought interested juniors and seniors to gain hands-on experience for the program of their choice from the college's myriad technical education programs.

Programs that participated in the Applied Technology Spotlight Day included early childhood education, cosmetology, information technology, welding technology, diesel technology, criminal justice and coal mining.

"It is important for students to be able to make informed decisions about their career path, and Spotlight Day provides the opportunity to help students grasp what it will take to work in the field they have chosen," said diesel technology instructor Ralph Boots.

Boots demonstrated a system that allows the technician or student to change engine parameters such as horsepower and torque. This system will also let the operator check for critical problems within the engine and make any necessary repairs.

About 160 junior and senior high school students attended this year's event. The students not only enjoyed time with college instructors they also heard from Student Affairs personnel about student life and activities, student services and financial aid and had an opportunity to participate in sessions with games and door prizes.

"The Applied Tech Spotlight Day is a great opportunity for high school students to spend time on-campus to meet personally with faculty in their program(s) of interest, as well as learn more about extracurricular activities that SIC has to offer," said Karen Weiss, CTE Dean for SIC. "Through these spotlight days, students can get a jump-start on planning for their college careers."